Contact: Jonah Weinberg, 650.508.6238

Caltrain Thanks Hillsdale Commuters With Coffee and Donuts

After a year of dust and detours, Caltrain has completed its improvement and upgrade of the Hillsdale station in San Mateo. To celebrate the completion of this project and to thank Hillsdale commuters for enduring the temporary inconvenience, Caltrain staff will be out on the platforms Monday, May 8 between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., with free coffee and donuts for everyone who comes through.

Caltrain recognizes that projects like this can be frustrating to commuters; however construction work at stations is necessary for improved rail service. At the same time Caltrain recognizes that its job is to serve passengers with the best possible rail experience. Caltrain wants passengers at Hillsdale to know that their patience during the station reconstruction is appreciated, and donut day is a small token to express that appreciation.

The project’s completion was delayed by several months due to the extremely wet winter season. The $4.2 million upgraded station includes a new northbound platform, an extended southbound platform, and signalized pedestrian crossings between both sides. It also created 150 new parking spaces, and improved access from the east side.

The project has resulted in improved safety for passengers; more operational flexibility to Caltrain, since trains can now stop in the station from both directions at the same time; and a general improvement of the customer’s experience at the station, with more parking, added ADA access and an upgraded voice and visual announcement system.

More than 1,200 commuters pass through the Caltrain Hillsdale Station on an average, weekday morning. Hillsdale is a key stop for Caltrain’s Baby Bullet service.

5/08/06 - jbw